Adult chocolate lab lethargic, vomiting and tail between legs - help!!!

Hi,

We are really worried about our 2 and a half year old chocolate lab, Harley.

He’s been vomiting for the past few weeks but he drinks a lot of water and eats a lot so we put it down to a mix of over eating/drinking too much.

Last night/today he has been constantly pacing and cannot get comfortable no matter what he does. He pads around and when he lies down he can’t get comfortable. He has been dribbling almost constantly and his tail has been constantly between his legs. He has been very aggressively nudging the cushions and throwing them across the room but I don’t know if this is relevant or not. He has carried on being sick but now we are worried this is contributing to a bigger problem. He has on and off cold ears.

He can still play but it’s only at points and majority of the time he’s trying to get comfortable and constantly moving around.


Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong?? We are worried and are wondering whether we should wait for a regular appointment with our vet or we organise an emergency vet appointment.

We are so worried so any soon responses would be really appreciated.

 

Hi @Beccasharp13 and welcome to the forum The symptoms you describe over the last few weeks suggest what ever is the underlying problem is now an acute issue with your dog presentating with behaviours synonymous with a lot of pain/discomfort.
I would be in no doubt and would be straight down to an emergency vet. Now.

 

We are very strongly considering getting an emergency appointment tomorrow as soon as we can, do you have any idea what it might be???

 

I have only had a puppy for 1.5 months so definitely no expert, but I wonder if he ate something and has an intestinal blockage? Even if not, I would be taking him to an emergency vet if it were me. Good luck to you and your Harley boy!

 

I am sorry, it would be difficult without diagnostics such as Xray, or ultrasound, clinical observations or blood work. All these things your vet will do.
I really would get your dog to the vet ASAP, and do let us know how you get on.

 

I too would be contacting the vet now!

 

Can we have an update?

It does sound like an obstruction; our Angus swallowed our grandson's pacifier within about five minutes of his first visit to our home. We didn't know which of the four dogs was responsible for the missing paci, and observing poo for the next week didn't enlighten us. What did was the same symptoms you are describing and then our boy refusing his breakfast, something he had never done in the past. We were lucky in that it passed right after the vet visit (literally in the parking lot) but he was a very sick boy for about a week afterwards.

Please let us know how your boy is doing.

 

I hope Harley is doing much better now.

 

Hey guys

Thank you so much for all of your messages and advice.
We took him to the vet yesterday morning first thing and the vet wanted to keep him in for tests.

At 4:30 PM after Xrays, blood tests and ultrasounds the vet found that unfortunately Harley had cancer in his liver and cysts on his kidneys. Unfortunately the vet advised us this was a silent form of cancer and there was no knowing when he had this but the most humane thing to do was to put him to sleep so he was no longer in pain. Im just grateful his pain only lasted a few days.

Im absolutely heartbroken at losing him so soon as two years just was not enough time. He was such a beautifully spirited dog and i will never know any other living being like him. We are having him cremated and spreading his ashes on the beach, his favourite place.

Thank you so much for your messages and any advice on grieving a pet would be very much appreciated as i feel very very lost and devastated without him.

 

So sorry for your loss. Xxx

 

So sorry for the devastating loss of your beloved Harley.
My thoughts are with you.

 

@Beccasharp13 I am simply devastated for you, this is just awful. Deeply sorry for your loss.

I know you are currently in a state of shock, but if you need to talk to people who understand, give the Blue Cross Bereavement service a call...

bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss

 

I'm so sorry to hear this, I read through this thread really hoping to hear that he was on the mend

What a sudden shock for you, and at 2.5yo he was such a young dog still. I'm so so sorry

 

Poor Harley . I am really sorry.....

 

Thank you this really means a lot xx

 

Thank you, its going to be a hard adjustment period but this means a lot thank you for your kind words xx

 

Thank you for your kind words, its such an awful shock and will take a long time to heal. Thank you for this and i might give them a call xx

 

Thank you for this. It really is, it truly came out of nowhere. He still had so much life in him and two and a half years was not enough time spent with him. I wished for a better result but at least he is no longer in pain and he is in peace xx

 

Thank you for this, i am peaceful in the knowledge that he isnt in pain any longer xx

 

That's all we can do for our beloved dogs, .he was lucky to have owners who cared and loved him like you did. Rest in peace beautiful boy xxx